Friday, June 29, 2007

Blazers are the big winners: "Super-size" is more like it. How many players did they draft and/or acquire? It felt like more than they are allowed to carry on the roster.

Start with this: Greg Oden? Awesome. Franchise foundation. Trading for Channing Frye? A little too close to LaMarcus Aldridge, but I like the depth on the frontcourt. (And then all those draftees. Whew! Yes, I know I mentioned the Blazers having Derrick Byars for the last 90 minutes on the blog...and I was ERRONEOUS. He's on the Sixers. But who can't love the Finn?)

UPDATE 2: If you haven't weighed in yet, who is your early favorite for Rookie of the Year -- or, if you think it's Oden or Durant in a lock, your all-Rookie team? Is it so obvious that it's Oden, Durant, Conley... hmm...who ARE the other two?

Sonics win big with Durant: That alone would have made Seattle a huge winner. Then they ship off Ray Allen's shots and replace them with Jeff Green's versatility. I'm not as sold as others that Durant and Green complement each other so perfectly, but if experts like Thorpe and the Sonics GM Presti are convinced, I'll buy it: Green will thrive next to KD.

Gators get five players drafted: Worthy of a two-time NCAA champ and the best starting five in NCAA history. Horford to the Hawks was a no-brainer. Brewer to the T'wolves should give KG at least a little hope. Noah to the Bulls was inspired. Chicago will LOVE him. (Rovell says he's the biggest marketing winner of the draft.)

(Minnesota drafting Chris Richard to be Brewer's roommate was smart; he's a poor man's Udonis Haslem. And Taurean Green is a gamer; he's part of a way-too-crowded Blazers point guard situation, but I think he'll earn his spot. OK: So who wants Lee Humphrey?)

Knicks Trade: I give Isiah credit. Zach Randolph is the interior bruiser to Eddy Curry's big-softie style. (Yeah, they give up on Frye, but David Lee was better than Frye anyway.) They take on Randolph's monster contract, but that's par for the course for Isiah.

Michael Jordan screws up (yet) another draft: I am no fan of Brandan Wright, but trading cheap young size for an expensive older guard is ludicrous. (Hello: Gerald Wallace?!)

The Celtics make a wrong move to win now: Teaming Ray Allen with Paul Pierce makes me wonder how this isn't anything different than "Sonics East," with Pierce playing the role of Rashard Lewis to Ray Allen's designated gunner. What a mistake. That team isn't winning the East, and I'd be surprised if they made the playoffs next season.

Milwauk-Yi: Pretty good marketing slogan, no? Wait: You say Yi's handlers don't want him playing there? And that the team hasn't really seen him work out? Eh, who cares: It's China. And haven't you heard? The NBA in China is going to be bigger than the NBA in the U.S. (No, seriously: I'll be surprised if he ever puts on a Bucks uniform. Way to go, Larry Harris.)

Meanwhile: For a draft so touted for its plethora of big men, didn't it feel like all those swingmen sort of blurred together? How many teams got anything more than incrementally better through the draft itself? Portland. Seattle. Atlanta (maybe).

Draft Fashion: My "Best Dressed" of the night was an easy one – Joakim Noah. Original, innovative... and only he could have pulled it off.

Noah looked like a tool, not like a person that is going to be a professional. Can you say Homey the Clown? He is going to be a horrible fit for the Bulls. Like they needed another low-post stump that can't score. He is Ben Wallace only younger and we all saw how well Ben fit in with the rest of the Baby Bulls.

I still think that KG is going somewhere. I think now that the dust has settled, the Wolves can evaluate their options and see what they can get in return for KG.

Portland looked to have a great night. They have jettisoned their dead weight from previous bad drafts and bad contracts. If the team has another year with decisions like this, they are going to be good.

damn it, pv485, you beat me to the punch about Joakim. That guy looked and acted like a total d-bag. At least we know he won't be signed to endorsement deals from Gillette, Wahl Clippers or the American Dental Association. Although that seersucker suit and bow tie might get him money from KFC.

"The Celtics make a wrong move to win now: Teaming Ray Allen with Paul Pierce makes me wonder how this isn't anything different than "Sonics East," with Pierce playing the role of Rashard Lewis to Ray Allen's designated gunner. What a mistake. That team isn't winning the East, and I'd be surprised if they made the playoffs next season."

Dan - Thank you, You have know all but cemented the Celtics as the Eastern Conference Champion.

Ray Allen makes the Celtics better, especially since they kept Jefferson and the Ratliff contract which means they can go out and add another piece to put the team over the top. Hmm- How about Jefferson, Ratliff and next years #1 for Garnett.

First of, Joakim Noah looked like an absolute tool. No human being should ever wear what he was wearing.

I hated that the Bulls selected Noah. He doesn't make them any better. The Bulls needed an offensive big man, not another Anderson Varejo. I do believe they selected Aaron Gray in the 2nd round.

I also hated the Hawks entire draft. They added a 20th power forward and I do believe the 4th drafted in 4 years. Then they select Acie Law to play pg. Then under weaknesses, espn lists ball handling. Jay bilas is an idiot. He said he loved the Acie Law pick and the proceeded to say, he can't shoot, he can't dribble, he can't create, WTF?????? The Hawks selected players who can play now to add to the youngest team in the NBA. If they were going to take Horford, they should have traded down from the 11 pick and taken a bigger player with more upside in Crittenton. No wonder they Hawks suck year in and year out. Acie Law has no upside and his better days are past him.

Milwaukee, I don't understand the Yi selection.

I liked the Brandon Wright selection, but the trade was one sided for Golden State.

The Lakers end up with Crittenton. Why? Farmar??

I'm surprised Daequan Cook ended up in Miami. Are they planning on playing him and Wade together or did they get a career backup sg?

Bulls fans are ready to storm the United Center with torches and pitchforks for getting Noah. Basically we got the more annoying/less athletic/uglier version of Tyrus Thomas. I love Thomas, we don't need another one of him though.

Noah looked like a douchebag but I'm sure no one is surprised Bandwagon Dan loved it.

I like the Celtics trade. They got rid of Wally, who has been terrible, and kept Ratliff's contract to move for another piece. Allen gives them a third scoring option and will do well spotting up when Pierce and Rondo drive and dish and when Jefferson gets doubled.

No. NOOOOOOOOOOOO! I have zero desire to see the C's move their one true young player with potential, plus a #1 pick that could be anywhere from #2 to #22 for a player that will help win now, sure, but who can also be a free agent very soon.

Besides, with Pierce & Allen already on max (or close to it) contracts, I don't think they can add any more big names without hitting the cap, hard.

The greatest starting 5 in NCAA history? Uh, yeah whatever. Your typical inane, non-sensical Gator slurping. There are several UCLA squads (Waltons & Jabbar's teams come to mind) not to mention UNC (remember Jordan, Worthy-2 Hall of Famers- Perkins, Black, & Dougherty), & Duke (Duhon, Brand, Battier, etc...) that have proven over time to be great starting 5s. Let's see what the Gator boys do when one (Humphrey) wasn't drafted, one (Green) was a 2nd rounder, and one (Noah) is a gigantic bust waiting to happen. As an aside, I agree with everyone above, he looked like a total tool. I can't wait to see him get worked over every night in the NBA. I believe that Horford will have a fine career but let's face it he isn't going to be an all-timer and Brewer while being a solid pro won't be making any All-Star teams out West any time soon. We know your a bandwagon jumping homer but please use some logic with your mis-informed posts.

Baseball,Yes, I actually watched the Yankee game last night which was postponed by rain in the 8th inning. I have a question for all of you out there. We know it has to go at least 5 innings or 4.5 with the home team winning to be official.

I thought if it was called by rain, it reverted back to the previous whole inning. In this case, the Yanks were down 6-4 at the end of the 7th. In the top of the 8th, the Yanks scored 4 runs. I was thinking it would revert to the 6-4 score. Is that only in case they can't make it up. Whose decision is it? MLB's?

Before 1980, the score would have reverted to the start of the inning, giving the Orioles a 6-4 win. But the rule was changed after a game on Aug. 13, 1978, when Baltimore led 3-0 after six innings and the Yankees scored five runs in the top of the seventh.

(5) Weather, if a regulation game is called while an inning is in progress and before the inning is completed, and the visiting team has scored one or more runs to take the lead, and the home team has not retaken the lead; or

Thanks CMFOST for the historical reason. See, I remember the rules from way back when I was a kid and that is the way it was.

It seems that if reverting back to the last complete inning causes the lead to change then they suspend the game. It was really raining hard yesterday when the Yanks scored their 4 runs in the top of the 8th. Oriole fans must be pissed off that the game wasn't called earlier when they still had the lead.

Worst picl of the draft: Houston passing up Tiago Splitter, Glen Davis, Nick Fazekas, and Josh McRoberts to take a 5'11" guard. The only PF on their roster is 6'6" and they have no back-up for Yao if 79 year old Dikembe Mutombo retires.

Does some of that "suspended game" stuff last night have to do with the fact that the Yankees will be returning later this season to Baltimore? What if it had been the last trip in of the season? Any difference?

I totally agree with you on the Ray Allen trade. Apparently Dan has forgotten how much the East SUCKS right now. Adding Allen automatically makes the C's a playoff contender. Plus, they didn't really give up much- they're full of developling young players, so they the #5 pick wasn't too helpful. Wally's decent but Delonte is going to get killed in the West. The acquisition of Allen makes them a better team now and keeps them in the running for KG.

I'm just sad that Noah's dad wasn't in the audience. He's the looker in the family.

I kinda thought Noah looked sweet only because it was weird. I also have to sorta agree with Dan on how great the gators starting five was. Do I think they will be great pro's? Maybe but were they a great COLLEGE starting five? Yes. Maybe not the greatest since it really is personal opinion. Yes those UCLA team of the mid 60'd to 70's won back to back to back but did they ever do it with the SAME starting five? I really don't know but I do know that Green, Horford, Brewer, Humphrey and buck tooth Noah did something amazing the last two years. Yes, I am a UF alum but give some credit where credit is due. Thy embodied the notion of playing as a team. Their respective NBA teams are all better for having them even if they don't contribute stats because they put team first and themselves second. Best part is my new job in Chicago does functions for all the teams in town so maybe I can sport my orange and blue when we cater something.

Sure, Noah might have looked straight out of a KFC commercial to Miss'ippi circa 1952, but the fact he even went there takes a bit of moxie, considering how dread-bland some of the others were. As for going to the Bulls, um wha????

And what about Joe D stockpiling those G's like he's got a young front court and not a wise-ass and a cripple? Argh, not that he's on par with millen (or Ainge or King, but sheesh). The Celtics move was okay, but it was a job saver, not a title contender. As for Phoenix, I don't even know what they heck they were doing, especially with some of the guards left on the board. Also, the Hawks draft was nice, but they will rue the day they turned down that Amare trade. Him and JJ with the other kids would have KILLED in the East. Of course, the DO get new unis...which are the hottest thing since, um, well, they're nice for a confirmation (I actually appreciate the little logo spot on the back of the jersey - sharp), buy why abandon the red and yellow? Bland on bland.

Brian,The suspended game has to do with the fact that the visiting team took the lead or tied the score in the top half of the inning. As CMFOST posted, before 1980, it just reverted back to the last complete inning.

If there was no subsequent series scheduled with the O's, it would only be made up if they could fit it in on an off day or after the season if it affected the playoffs. Similar to any other rainout. I guess if they never complete the game, then it gets wiped from the record books but I am not positive on how individual stats are handled.

Been too long since I've posted. The rare busy week has prevented me from getting the Studs and Duds everyday. Apologies if you even care...

Noah both looked terrible and great at the same time, if only because he looked absolutely hideous, but it still sort of fits his personality. I won't go as far as Dan, but I'll say that Noah has the personality and goofiness to pull off a cross between Troy Polomalou (sp?) and Pee Wee Herman... still, would've been cooler to go all out and do the Dumb & Dumber look...

Cycle is right about the MLB rule. If the Yankees would've only scored 1 run in that inning, it would've been moot, but since they scored enough to tie or take the lead, then the game is suspended and will resume from the point it left off. I do find it hard to believe though that the Yankees have no more games in Baltimore this year... how can that be?

I was happy though seeing golden boy Jared Dudley going as high as he did, even if it was to Charlotte. He should at least get some PT there, even if it's as a solid 6th man. Also happy to see disgraced boy Sean Williams going to New Jersey. I think that's a perfect fit so long as he can mature a little. He plays above the rim, and can block and alter shots on the defensive side, he'll do very, very well in NJ.

Last one for now, but I'm sort of indifferent about the Celtics move. I think it makes them a playoff team of the 6th/7th spot variety, but not really anymore of a force. Getting rid of Wally was great, and I don't see Delonte ever becoming more than a solid bench player on a good team, or a decent starter on a bad team. And there really wasn't anyone still available at 5 that would've really helped them, right?

As a celts fan I'm ambivalent toward this trade. Even if we do trade Al, Theo and next years #1 for KG, that gives us 3 aging Superstars and a bag of used basketballs. If we don't win it all in 3 years we won't sniff the playoffs for the next 10 after that.

One other thing, I find it interesting how ESPN dumped Harold Renyolds(a guy I actually liked listening to.) over a sexual harrasment claim. Yet, when it comes to Jay Crawford and Woody Paige(two guys I can't stand) ESPN circles the wagons, what's up with that?

Actually, Harold's lawyers must love this, they can nail ESPN on wrongful termination. ESPN just showed how an accusation doesn't have to result in dissmisal which, if I recall, is the exact reason they gave for giving Harold the boot. If my recollection is wrong, I apologize.

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DanShanoff.com is a sports-blog spin-off of my long-time ESPN.com column, "The Daily Quickie." Anchored by an early-morning post of must-know topics, the blog is updated frequently throughout the day with new posts and user comments.